Return to Montague Island: More Mysteries and Logic Puzzles

Montague Island Mysteries #2

by R. Wayne Schmittberger

Welcome back to Montague Island, where successful solvers explore a mansion, complete a series of logic puzzles, and reveal the secret behind a mysterious package and its coded message!

This entertaining sequel to the popular Montague Island Mysteries once again follows a storyline about a group of friends who meet to play murder-mystery games at an island mansion. The fun begins when Gordon Montague receives a mysterious package with a coded message, and the drama plays out over multiple puzzle-solving gatherings. To successfully solve all the logic puzzles, you’ll have to study maps, blueprints, dartboards, mosaics, and more.

Genres: Puzzles

96 pages, Spiral-bound

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Mellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one, but I think that has to do with taste in types of puzzles. There were a lot more spatial reasoning ones in this sequel, which are my least favorite.

[Toby C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of a good puzzle book. I love anything that successfully combines two of my great loves - books and games. I like them to be challenging enough to get the mind working (after all, it's boring if they're too easy), but not so difficult that it's no longer fun.

This is the second book in the Montague Island series, and for me, this book series really toes that line between fun and challenging. Some of these puzzles took me several days to work out. Sometimes I would stare at a puzzle for minutes or hours until a piece would fall into place and I'd find a path forward. There's a gratification in being able to sit down and complete a puzzle in one sitting. For me, there's a greater gratification in finally discovering the answer after many frustrating days.

I understand that that's not for everyone. And I can relate. Unlike the first book, in which every puzzle eventually clicked into place, there were a few puzzles in this book that felt tedious and cumbersome. The dart puzzle and the mahjongg puzzle immediately come to mind. Sometimes months would go by because I couldn't motivate myself to jump back into a logic puzzle that had utterly intimidated me. Still, I think those puzzles were in the minority, and the vast majority of them were enjoyable reminded me of all the puzzles from the first book.

I have the two additional books in this puzzle series, and I will open them when I feel ready. I have others too, some of which I started a long time ago and probably merit starting over. For people who are looking for challenging puzzle books that are worthwhile, the Montague Island series is the best series I have encountered so far.

[Kay Iscah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still don't think this book has fully embraced the storytelling this format could have, but maybe slightly more of an effort this time. Lot of variety in the puzzles. I know burned through this one more quickly than the last, but that could be because I was working it over winter break.